BAPTISM
What is it and why do we do it? In a short
space of print I will attempt with God’s help to answer not in full but in
part.
First, baptism is one of two sacraments
recognized within the Reformed Faith. Sacrament comes from the Latin word “sacramentum”
which was an oath that a Roman soldier took to show his allegiance to the
emperor. The other sacrament that we recognize is the sacrament of Holy
Communion sometimes referred to as “The Lord’s Supper.”
Baptism, for people of the Reformed Faith is
a continuation of the Old Testament rite of Circumcision. In the Old Testament
circumcision was a sign given by God to Abraham indicating that the male infant
was now marked as being a member of God’s family. Females were admitted to
God’s family through the male. Christians within the Reformed faith see baptism
as a carry over into a new covenant of the Old Testament rite of circumcision.
Infants of course do not remember the day of their admission into God’s family.
The vows taken at baptism are taken by the parents on behalf of the child. They
promise to bring the child up in the nurture and love of the Lord. NOW, when a baptized child reaches an
age of understanding (early teens) hopefully they will want to take ownership
of their parents vows made at their baptism by making a profession of faith and
joining a Christian Church. They do not have to be re-baptized. The Bible
states quite clearly in Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one spirit, just
as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
who is above all and through all and in all.” At the time of their profession
of faith he/she should rejoice that the sign given at their baptism has come to
fruition.
What about something called; “believers
baptism?” Believers baptism is the
baptism of one who as a young person or adult has made a profession of faith
and is then baptized. As an adult they were able to take responsibility for the
vows themselves. However, believers baptism does negate infant baptism. In the
Holy Scripture it states that whole
households were baptized and we believe that in those households there were
indeed children. Christians within the Reformed Faith believe in believers
baptism and infant baptism. However, many outside the Reformed Faith believe
only in Believers Baptism. Christian parents should not wait for their child to
experience “believers baptism” but rather have the “sign and seal” that is
offered in infant baptism bestowed upon their child while they are of a young
age.
With regard to the method of baptism being
the “sprinkling of water” or “immersion” it makes no difference. As one of the
early fathers of the Reformation said; “whether it be a thimble full or a
bucket full it makes no difference. The importance lies not in the amount of
water but what the water symbolizes.” The water in baptism symbolizes the blood
of Christ which washes away our sins. All humans at birth came into the world
carrying Adam’s fallen sinful nature with them.
Rev. John Fraser